Here’s everything you need to know about the neutral-site Southwest Classic between Texas A&M and Arkansas.

When: Today
Where: Arlingtion, Texas
Game Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Current Line: Texas A&M (-9.5)

Game Buzz: Other than the second half against a Top 5 Auburn team, Arkansas has looked every bit the part of a Top 25 program through four games. If the Razorbacks win, all seven SEC West teams could be ranked in Sunday’s Associated Press poll. Meanwhile, courtesy of a white-hot start against South Carolina and an injury to Gamecocks RB Mike Davis, the A&M defense that held back Johnny Manziel and company in 2013 hasn’t been stressed. It’s a classic contrast of styles with Arkansas’ ground-and-pound and Texas A&M’s up-tempo spread, but both offenses are among the most efficient in the nation.

SATURDAY DOWN SOUTH PREVIEWS

NO. 6 TEXAS A&M AGGIES

Players To Watch:

  • QB Kenny Hill
  • WR Malcome Kennedy
  • LT Cedric Ogbuehi
  • DE Myles Garrett
  • LB Shaan Washington
  • LB Jordan Mastrogiovanni

Keys For Texas A&M:

  • Make QB Brandon Allen beat you. Yes, Allen is healthy this season, sporting a strong 8/1 touchdowns-to-interceptions ratio. But A&M wants to grab a lead and force the Razorbacks to abandon their game plan in an effort to reel in the Aggies, so Garrett and the rest of the pass rush can try to tee off on Allen.
  • Hurry without hurrying. Texas A&M’s up-tempo style stresses defenses, but Kenny Hill and company can’t be in too much of a hurry to score. The Aggies looked unstoppable last week when SMU decided to give the athletic receivers a big cushion. Hill torched the Mustangs with underneath throws, playing easy pitch-and-catch and allowing the receivers to do the rest. The team also has mixed in the running game with great success and more often than you’d guess. Hill and the offense must avoid forcing the ball deep to conform to the pre-packaged, high-scoring game narrative.
  • Take the ball. The Aggies defense hasn’t forced a turnover in 11 quarters, or not since pressuring Lamar into a fumble and an interception in the first quarter three games ago. But a takeaway or two would be huge against this Arkansas offense, which doesn’t give opponents many opportunities.

Glaring weakness to watch: Shedding blocks — The front seven is athletic, strong and fast. But the unit will languish against the power run game of Arkansas unless defensive linemen and linebackers can shed blocks, fill gaps and make plays.

Most interesting part of the game: Whether Texas A&M’s offense can continue to put up more than 50 points per contest.

Team buzz: Texas A&M hasn’t slipped in the rankings — and hasn’t given voters any reason to downgrade them — but questions about this team’s defense and overall ability to win week-in and week-out in the SEC West have slowly resurfaced after a resounding season-opening win in Columbia, S.C. Can the Aggies prove the concerns are unfounded?

ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS

Players To Watch:

  • QB Brandon Allen
  • DE Trey Flowers
  • WR Keon Hatcher
  • S Alan Turner
  • RB Alex Collins
  • RB Jonathan Williams
  • RB Korliss Marshall
  • OL Denver Kirkland
  • OT Dan Skipper
  • LB Brooks Ellis
  • S Rohan Gaines
  • TE AJ Derby
  • CB Tevin Mitchel

Keys for Arkansas:

  • Control time of possession. We saw just how dangerous Arkansas can be when the run game is unstoppable and the offense reels off several double-digit play drives. Against Texas Tech, that was the key for Arkansas, keeping the ball away from Tech’s offense and that’ll have the same importance for the Hogs against the Aggies today. Arkansas’ best defense in Arlington may just be their offense.
  • Don’t give up on the run. With a potent offense, Texas A&M can score a lot of points and do it very quickly. For Arkansas, it’s important that even if they trail by more than one touchdown, that they don’t abandon the run game like South Carolina did against the Aggies in their season-opener. Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams got the Hogs to this point and they could bring them back from a double-digit deficit in this game.
  • Throw out the rankings. Since the end of August, college football has been incredibly high on Texas A&M and their offense has received non-stop publicity. They’re talented, yes, but Arkansas can’t get intimidated. Despite not being ranked, the Hogs are a good team this year and certainly more than capable of beating the Aggies this afternoon and ending the Razorbacks’ SEC drought.

Glaring weakness to watch: Secondary play. Now more than ever, Arkansas needs the secondary to play its best game yet. Texas A&M has the highest-scoring offense in the SEC and that’s mainly due to the passing game led by Kenny Hill. The defensive backs’ job just got tougher, too, with the news of Speedy Noil playing this afternoon.

Most interesting part of the game: Aggies run defense vs. Razorbacks running attack. The Aggies have improved this season from their SEC-worst run defense in 2013, but they still have shown vulnerability in that area (Rice ran for 240 yards on Aggies). Can Arkansas gash the middle of A&M’s defense like they’ve done so many times this season?

Team buzz: By all accounts, this isn’t a game Arkansas isn’t supposed to be able to win yet. However, with such a stark contrast in playing styles, the Hogs could ride their punishing running attack and wear down a young A&M defense. Ball control will be the most important aspect for Arkansas as they look to upset the No. 6 ranked Aggies in Arlington this afternoon.